Earlier this morning (June 28) His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI announced the appointment of a new bishop for the local Catholic diocese. Reverend Marcel Damphousse has been serving as Rector of Saint-Boniface Cathedral in Manitoba under Archbishop Albert LeGatt in the Archdiocese of Saint-Boniface.

The 49 year old Damphousse who hails from Saint-Joseph, was ordained to the priesthood in 1991 and has served a number of parishes since that time. The Bishop-elect earned a Bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1984 at the University College of Saint Boniface, followed by a Bachelor’s degree in theology in 1989 from Saint Paul University, Ottawa. He received his formation for the priesthood at Saint Paul’s Seminary, Ottawa. In 2002 he earned a licentiate in spiritual theology from the Teresianum in Rome.

For a number of years, Bishop-elect Damphousse taught at the Manitoba Catholic School of

Bishop-elect Marcel Damphousse

Evangelization, and was vocations director for more than 12 years. Before being appointed Rector of the Cathedral, he was chaplain at St. Boniface Diocesan High School for five years. Currently, he is a member of the Diocesan Finance Committee and of the Diocesan Commission for Liturgy. He has also been the spiritual director of the TEC (To Encounter Christ) movement for the past eight years.

Damphousse will fill the vacancy created last October 12 when the Most Reverend Paul-André Durocher, then bishop of this diocese, was appointed Archbishop of Gatineau. Since November 30, when Durocher was officially installed in Gatineau, Father Kelvin Maloney has been Diocesan Administrator of Alexandria-Cornwall.

It is anticipated that Damphousse will be ordained a bishop and installed locally later this summer, by the end of August.

UPDATE: The Winnipeg Free Press ran a story from the perspective of the parishioners whom Damphousse will leave behind.

On a related note, Archbishop Paul-Andre Durocher received his pallium in Rome on June 29. EWTN has video coverage.

I thought that it would be a good idea to offer you, our viewers, an opportunity to propose questions that you’d like him to address. Here is your opportunity. Please email me your questions this weekend and I’ll determine how best to incorporate them into the interview. Send your suggestions to Don.Smith@CornwallFreeNews.com .

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13 Comments on "UPDATED – Alexandria-Cornwall has a new Bishop-Elect by Don Smith"

Can someone explain to me why a total stranger would be anointed by a totally estranged Pope (meaning he doesn’t live in this area or know anything about the people who live here and what their needs are). Why isn’t Father Kevin Maloney, who is loved by just about everyone who knows him, appointed instead? I fail to understand this ridiculous way to lead a flock of sheep (no pun intended). How can your prayers be answered by someone who knows NOTHING about you? Why do you need this person anyway when everything seems to be going along quite fine… Read more »

If the Roman Catholic institution would abide by the Holy Word of God such would not happen. This happens when a high anarchy is in control, and the local people are just lead around like pawns.

When the Lord Jesus said He would build His church He did not include such traditions and commandments of men to be of any authority. Best to leave mystery Babylon while you still can, for judgment is coming – the Harlot shall be judged. Rev. 17-18

Dear “Miss Steak”. I believe that you’ve made a “mistake.” The role of bishop is very much different from that of interim diocesan administrator. Fr. Kevin Maloney is not the interim administrator as you seem to believe. His relative, Fr. Kelvin Maloney, is currently in that role, one that he has filled in the past in the absence of a resident bishop. Interim administrators have very little authority compared to a bishop and therefore considerably less responsibility than a bishop. Essentially they maintain the status quo until a new bishop arrives. There are various Catholic apologetics sites which deal with… Read more »

Dear Tom. We’ve been down this path before, but I suppose that you didn’t get the answer that you wanted to hear. Anyone who takes a serious look at Church history, the rationale behind the Catholic Mass, etc, will soon realize that Catholics very much are a “people of the Book (the Holy Bible.)” I’m sure that you’re familiar with Mt 16:18: “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. ” Peter was the first Pope and the Church is still very… Read more »

Don, I have not made a mistake. I simply wonder why we have strange men coming into our environment and area who know little to nothing about us and how we function. Why don’t we elect a person who knows us and knows our needs. That’s all. Nothing more. It’s just my opinion.

Dear “Miss Steak”, be assured that you have made a “mistake.” You’ve confused one priest for another. I’ve provided you with two online sources to help you better inform yourself on the role of a bishop. Your reply came in so quickly that it is not possible that you took the time to check out the references which I took the time to look up for you. If yours is a serious question, please do your part by reading the text. Then if you have remaining questions, we’ll both be in a better position to discuss them. 🙂

Don Smith writes -“…will soon realize that Catholics very much are a “people of the Book (the Holy Bible.)” First of all, any “Holy Bible” based on the Latin Vulgate is corrupt from beginning to end. 2ndly, The Roman Catholic institution also adds to the their corrupt version of the Word of God – the teachings of the church fathers, tradition, councils, dogma, and of course when the Pope speaks – ” ex cathedra”. Protestants have always rejected such man made authority when it is added, or when such is considered as a binding authority on the conscience. The Holy… Read more »

Actually, miss steak, there are a number of good reasons for not appointing Bishops to regions they are originally from, although I certainly understand the point that you’re making. One of the most practical reasons they generally aren’t appointed where they are from is that they have to make difficult decisions all the time, and it would strain way too many relationships when people start asking for personal favors/weighing in on things and trying to influence decisions because of those relationship. Also, this would be exaggerated if the Bishop has a lot of family in that area. This way, there… Read more »

I am a native from the Archdiocese of Saint Boniface, currently in the Archdiocese of Ottawa, and I can personally vouch for the solidity of character and of the ministry of Father Damphousse. I think you shouldn’t be so quick to judge, Miss Steak, it is very understandable that your current administrator may be very beloved by the diocese and that it may hurt a little bit to loose him in this role, but this does not mean that another man will not be able to do the job. He doesn’t know the territory right now, right off the bat?… Read more »

I thought that it would be a good idea to offer you, our viewers, an opportunity to propose questions that you’d like him to address. Here is your opportunity. Please email me your questions this weekend and I’ll determine how best to incorporate them into the interview. Send your suggestions to Don.Smith@CornwallFreeNews.com .